Deborah Chan
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took place on 19 May 2018 in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. As Prince Harry's grandmother and the most senior member of the royal family, Queen Elizabeth II was in attendance. The Queen's presence at her grandson's wedding was notable, especially given the couple's decision to include African-American cultural elements in the traditional ceremony and Markle's previous marriage, which may have been seen as controversial within the royal family.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of the wedding | 19 May 2018 |
| Wedding venue | St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle |
| Queen Elizabeth's attendance | Yes |
| Queen Elizabeth's role | Grandmother of the groom, Prince Harry |
| Queen Elizabeth's outfit | Vibrant colours |
| Wedding dress designer | Clare Waight Keller |
| Wedding dress details | Double-bonded silk cady, underskirt in triple silk organza, boat neckline, long sleeves, sweeping train |
| Wedding tiara | A diamond bandeau tiara made in 1932 for Queen Mary |
| Conflict before the wedding | Queen Elizabeth scolded Meghan Markle for being disrespectful to the caterers |
| Meghan Markle's father's attendance | Absent due to medical reasons |
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What You'll Learn
Queen Elizabeth II attended the wedding
The wedding ceremony was officiated by Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, using the standard Anglican church service for Holy Matrimony. The bride, Meghan Markle, wore a wedding dress designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller under the fashion house Givenchy. It featured a boat neckline, long sleeves, and a sweeping train. Her silk veil was 16 feet long and embroidered with 55 flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, as well as the California Poppy, the state flower of California. Markle wore a diamond bandeau tiara made in 1932 for Queen Mary and lent to her by Queen Elizabeth II. The tiara was reportedly a source of disagreement between Markle and the Queen before the wedding, with the Queen reminding Markle of royal etiquette.
The groom, Prince Harry, wore the rank of major with the star of the Royal Victorian Order, of which he is a Knight Commander. He also wore the ribbons of the Royal Victorian Order, the Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan, the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal, and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. Prince William served as the best man and wore the EIIR cypher on his shoulder straps, indicating his position as an aide-de-camp to the Queen.
The wedding was a traditional ceremony with a notable inclusion of African-American culture. It was also unique in that it took place on a Saturday, as British royals typically hold their weddings on weekdays. The Royal Mint produced an official £5 coin to commemorate the wedding, and Royal Mail issued commemorative postage stamps featuring the couple's official engagement photographs.
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She wore vibrant colours
Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Harry's grandmother, attended the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on Saturday, May 19, 2018, at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in the United Kingdom.
The Queen wore vibrant colours, as is customary for her. She was dressed in an electric shade, a colourful choice that some might perceive as an attempt to steal the spotlight from the bride at an American wedding. However, the Queen is known for her penchant for rainbow shades, and her grandson's wedding was no exception.
On this occasion, she exited her car with Prince Philip just before Meghan drove up to the chapel. The Queen's arrival before the bride is a break from the usual protocol, where the most senior member of the royal family arrives last.
The vibrant colours worn by the Queen at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding are a notable aspect of her iconic appearance, showcasing her distinctive style and presence at the event.
In addition to the Queen's colourful outfit, there are a few other notable details about her attendance at the wedding. The seat in front of the Queen was left empty, as per royal protocol, to provide her with a clear view of the ceremony. This empty seat was not, contrary to speculation, left in memory of Princess Diana.
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She arrived with Prince Philip
Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Harry's grandmother, attended his wedding to Meghan Markle on 19 May 2018. The Queen arrived with Prince Philip, her husband, just before Meghan drove up to St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.
The Queen wore a vibrant colour, as is customary, and she sat in the second row, with the seat in front of her left empty, as per royal protocol, so that she could have a clear view of the ceremony.
The wedding was a traditional ceremony with a few modern twists, including an American bishop delivering a sermon, and the inclusion of African-American culture. Meghan's wedding dress was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, and her silk veil was embroidered with flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth.
The Queen's presence at her grandson's wedding was not a given, as her role as Head of the Church of England means she also stands for its views on divorce. Meghan's previous marriage to TV producer Trevor Engelson, whom she divorced in 2013, could have complicated matters. However, the Queen expressed her delight at the engagement, and she loaned Meghan a diamond bandeau tiara made in 1932 for Queen Mary.
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The Queen scolded Meghan Markle before the wedding
Queen Elizabeth II did indeed attend the wedding of her grandson Prince Harry to Meghan Markle, which took place on 19 May 2018 at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. The Queen wore a vibrant colour, as is customary, and arrived just before Meghan, breaking with the usual protocol for events and engagements that she arrives last.
However, it is rumoured that the Queen scolded Meghan before the wedding. According to royal expert Katie Nicholl, in her book, *The New Royals*, the Queen reprimanded Meghan for how she spoke to a caterer during a pre-wedding food tasting. Meghan had been complaining about her vegan wedding food, saying that it was meant to be "vegan and macrobiotic". The Queen reportedly said, "Meghan, in this family, we don't speak to people like that."
There were also reportedly several other conflicts behind the scenes, including a disagreement over Markle's wedding tiara. Royal biographer Robert Lacey claimed that Harry once said, "What Meghan wants, Meghan gets!", to which the Queen responded, "Meghan cannot have whatever she wants. She gets the tiara that she is given by me." Harry denied these allegations in his memoir. The Queen was also reportedly unhappy with how Harry had behaved in the lead-up to the wedding, and her reaction to the birth of Harry and Meghan's first child, Archie, was notably cold.
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The wedding was held at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle
The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was held on Saturday, 19 May 2018, at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in the United Kingdom. The groom is a member of the British royal family, and the bride is American, with a background in acting, blogging, and advocacy. The wedding ceremony was a traditional affair, noted for the inclusion of African-American culture. It was officiated by Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, who used the standard Anglican church service for Holy Matrimony.
St George's Chapel has been the site of numerous royal weddings, including those of Queen Victoria's children. It is also the final resting place of several monarchs, including King George VI, the Queen Mother Elizabeth, and King Edward IV. The wedding reception was hosted by Prince Charles at Frogmore House, which has a long tradition of being used by British royals for joyful occasions.
The bride wore a dress designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller, under the fashion house Givenchy. It featured a boat neckline, long sleeves, and a sweeping train. The silk veil was 16 feet long and embroidered with 55 flowers, representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, as well as the California Poppy, the state flower of California. Markle's choice of dress, as well as the cake and flowers, were speculated to influence the choices of other British brides.
Prince Harry wore the rank of major, along with the star of the Royal Victorian Order and various medals. His brother and best man, Prince William, also wore the rank of major with distinct honours. The wedding was attended by 600 guests, including notable non-royals such as George and Amal Clooney, Idris Elba, and Tom Hardy.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Queen Elizabeth attended the wedding of her grandson Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. She wore a vibrant shade of green, as is customary, and arrived with her husband, Prince Philip, just before Meghan drove up to St. George's Chapel.
The Queen was seated in the second row so that she could have a good view of the ceremony. The seat in front of her was left empty, as is customary.
Queen Elizabeth lent Meghan Markle a diamond bandeau tiara, made in 1932 for Queen Mary. The centre brooch had been a wedding gift to Queen Mary from the County of Lincoln in 1893.
